Daily news and links for Wednesday.

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo spotlights fourth-round pick Craig Woodson hoping to fill a role in the secondary. “He’s a pro through and through.”
• Media Availability: Kyle Dugger and Joshua Dobbs (16 min. video)
• The PU Crew talks with QB Joshua Dobbs in-studio to talk offseason workouts, learning Josh McDaniels playbook, working with Drake Maye and more! (10 min. video)
• Trailer: Forged In Foxborough: Exclusive look at the 2025 New England Patriots. (2.15 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Joshua Dobbs in-studio, Edelman to Pats HOF, offseason workouts. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS...

A standout wide receiver is expected to be traded this week, and the New England Patriots again weren’t involved in the deal.

According to multiple reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers are finalizing a George Pickens trade with the Cowboys in exchange for a third-round pick and a Day 3 pick swap.

Patriots fans immediately wondered Wednesday morning why New England didn’t jump in on that deal. Why would it?

Pickens enters this season in the final year of his contract. The 24-year-old was the subject of trade rumors because the Steelers might not be able to re-sign the wideout along with...

Previewing the Patriots wide receiver heading into his second NFL season.

The New England Patriots entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a definitive need at the wide receiver position and did not waste much time to address it. With the 37th overall selection in the second round, they acquired Ja’Lynn Polk from the University of Washington to give quarterback Drake Maye a potential future go-to target to develop alongside him.

At least early on in their careers, however, the two are seemingly finding themselves on a different trajectory.

Hard facts

Name: Ja’Lynn Polk

Position: Wide receiver

Jersey number: 1...

Dobbs signed a two-year deal this offseason to backup Maye.

Among the coaches and players from the New England Patriots’ quarterback room last season, only Drake Maye remains entering the 2025 season.

Maye is now set to be backed up by Joshua Dobbs, who he first met at a NFLPA golf event in Cancun, Mexico earlier this offseason. With the two in Foxboro for the Patriots voluntary offseason program, Maye has taken it upon his shoulders to show the 30-year old around.

“He can hit the crap out of it with his driver,” Dobbs said Tuesday. “It’s good to get...

The Patriots will be trying to find some talent on the free agent market after the end of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Even before the 2025 NFL Draft came to an end, teams already started turning their attention to rookie free agency. The New England Patriots are no exception, and the expectation is that they will be quite busy: the team of head coach Mike Vrabel and quasi-general manager Eliot Wolf has 10 spots on its 90-man offseason roster left to fill.

In order to fill those, they will turn to the market of undrafted players. Given their long history...

The New England Patriots revealed the jersey numbers for their 2025 rookie class, and one number elicited the reaction of not one but two former Super Bowl champions.

Second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson will be wearing No. 32 — the same digits as long-time captain Devin McCourty.

McCourty’s brother Jason took the opportunity to throw some shade at his brother on social media.

“Best I’ve seen 32 look in a Patriots uniform in a LONG time!!!” Jason McCourty wrote on X.

While it’s unclear if Devin saw what his brother said, the cornerback-turned-safety also posted about Henderson sporting his number this...

Will Campbell has a leg up on other draftees.

Campbell, the first-round selection of the New England Patriots, has been able to pick the brain of NFL legend Andrew Whitworth for years. It was a “huge honor,” Campbell said on draft night. And now that the LSU product is headed to the NFL, he can reflect back on it.

“Well, I think one of the biggest things for all young athletes is continue to be yourself,” Whitworth told NESN.com when asked about the messages he offered. “What makes you special? Don’t lose sight of that.”

Whitworth learned about Campbell when...

Submit your questions down below.

The NFL Draft is officially in the rearview as the New England Patriots left with a projected strong cast of players — to also pair with an intriguing UDFA class. The work now transitions back to the offseason program which features rookie minicamp this week.

So, submit any questions — or whatever else is on your mind — down in the comments below or on Twitter using #PostPulpit.

Stay tuned for Friday’s updated mailbag.

Are the New England Patriots the most improved team entering the 2025 NFL season?

FS1’s Colin Cowherd certainly thinks so.

Cowherd predicted New England as a playoff team in the immediate aftermath of free agency and doubled down on that prediction following a successful run through the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Patriots, I’ve said this, they will be the Washington of the NFL,” Cowherd said on “The Herd” Tuesday. “I predicted Washington and Denver would be the most improved teams. I’m predicting the Patriots will be the most improved team. Drake Maye actually has a coach and they’ve made major upgrade...

Dugger suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 of last season.

The 2024 season was a tough one for New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger.

Much of that was due to a high ankle sprain that he suffered all the way back in Week 4. Dugger went to miss four games before suiting up in the Patriots final seven contests — where he was visibly limited — before undergoing surgery shortly after the season.

Back in the building for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program, Dugger shared that his ankle is “doing well” and he’s excited to turn...

The 2024 Patriots draft picks have received their jersey numbers.

Well, at least the numbers they’ll start with this offseason. Some could change after roster cuts are made in late August.

Here’s a look at the numbers the rookies will be wearing:

OT Will Campbell: 66
RB TreVeyon Henderson: 32
WR Kyle Williams: 18
C Jared Wilson: 58
S Craig Woodson: 31
DT Joshua Farmer: 92
OLB Bradyn Swinson: 43
K Andres Borregales: 36
OT Marcus Bryant: 52
LS Julian Ashby: 47
CB Kobee Minor: 19

Last season, Woodson’s No. 31 was worn by Jonathan Jones, Farmer’s No. 92 was...

Julian Edelman deserves to be a Patriots Hall of Famer, and that’s exactly what he’s going to be after the fans voted him in.

The Patriots Hall of Fame on Monday announced Edelman won the fan vote and will be the next legendary player to be inducted. He will form the Class of 2025 with former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells after winning the fan vote of the well-deserving Adam Vinatieri and Logan Mankins.

During the latest episode of NESN’s “Boston Has Entered The Chat,” Travis Thomas and George Balekji reacted to Edelman’s selection and whether or not he was...